Office equipment.



E. STEVENSON.

OFFICE EQUIPMENT.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

' veniently presented, delivered and received,

UNTTE @FFTQE.

OFFICE EQUIPMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK STEVENSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, re- I siding at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Office Equipments, of which the following is'a specification.

This invention relates to office equipments; and it has for its object to provide adevice for use in professional, business and other oflices whereby communications between the office tenants and other parties may be conwithout the intervention of the services of a clerk or attendant.

A further feature of utility of the device consists in its adaptability for the reception of mail matter,,each oiiice tenant being provided with a separate receptacle, marked with his or her name or other appropriate: designation.

The particular objects of the invention consist in the provision ofa device or combination of devices of the character set forth which will be relatively simple and ineX- pensive in construction, convenient in installation and use, compact in form, attractive in appearance, and generally superior. in point of efliciency and serviceability.

With the above and other objects, the invention consists in the novel provision, construction, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shownin the drawing and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is an isometric view of a device in the nature of ofiice equipment constructed to embody the invention; the parts being shown in position and as semblage for installation and use; and, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same, substantially centrally of Fig. l, the parts being shown in slightly altered relative positions with respect to one feature of the main invention.

Corresponding parts in both figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, the improved device shown therein comprises a main frame A with which are united and combined a plurality of receptacles B each having a closure 6, a message-giving or indicating member C, message recording Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 24, 1909.

means D and an adjustable support at there- Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 504,199.

for, and a receptacle E for the message-recording means D, for which receptacle E the adjustable support (Z serves as a closure. The receptacle E is preferably disposed between the receptacles B, or in longitudinal serial relation therewith, and the messagegiving or indicating member C is preferably arranged above the receptacles B and E, preferably directly above the receptacle E. Each of the receptacles B is provided with a slot or opening 3, preferably at the top thereof.

A particular preferred form of construction and arrangement of parts and features of a device embodying the invention, as shown in the drawing, is as follows: The main frame A consists of a rear upright member 1 with which are connected two spaced forwardly projecting substantially horizontal members, 5 and 6 respectively.

The member 4 is adapted for connection- 8, the frame members 5 and 6, and the frame member 4. Each casing 8 is open at the front and provided with a hinged door 9 constituting the respective closure 6. The slots or openings 3 of the respective receptacles B are formed through the frame member 5.

The message-recording means D comprise a pad 10 consisting of a plurality of sheets or blanks of writing material; and a pencil, pen or other writing implement 11; both of which are normally held in place upon a hinged support 12 arranged at the orifice of the receptacle E and mounted to swing upon the frame member 6 so as to serve as a closure for said receptacle or as a writing table. The hinged support 12 is shown in Fig. 1 in extended position for use as a writing table in the employment of pad 10 is connected with the support 12 by suitable holding clips or equivalent devices 14; and the pencil 11 is detachably connected with the support 12 by a clip or other holder 15.

The message-giving or indicating member C comprises a casing 16 mounted upon the frame member 5, preferably directly over the receptacle E and formed and pro portioned to hold and contain a plurality of cards or blanks 17 pressed forward by a spring 18. The casing 16 is closed at its rear and side and bottom portions by fixed casing members, and is provided with a hinged top member 19 from which depends a fixed front member 20 carrying a glass or equivalent pane 21 through which the foremost card or blank 17 may be inspected. A catch or latch 22 supported by the frame member 5 co-acts with the lower edge por tion of the front casing member 21 to maintain the same normally in lowered position, together with the hinged top member 19.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the oiiice equipment and device or cabinet constituting the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and followin statement:-By means of suitable holding devices, such as the screw 7, the entire device as a unitary fixture or cabinet is mounted in connection with a wall or other supporting structure, in location convenient for use by the oflice or other tenants and their vis itors. In service, the device effectively takes the place of a clerk or other attendant, in notifying visitors of the whereabouts of absent tenants or other persons, or in receiving messages or mail for the latter parties. The cards or blanks 17 are utilized to display through the transparent pane 21 such message or messages or memoranda as the tenants of the oflices desire their visitors to read, thus giving information of the whereabouts of the absent tenants, where they may be reached by message, and when they will return. The pad 10 and pencil 11, or their equivalents, may be conveniently employed upon the hinged support 12, when the latter is in lowered position, for the purpose of writing messages or communications for the respective tenants whose names appear, as shown, upon the respective receptacles B. Such messages or communications, as well as cards and mail matter, telegrams or other messages, are deposited in the proper receptacle B through its slot or opening 3 whence the same may be withdrawn by the proper party upon the unlocking of the respective door 9. To the latter end suitable locking means may be employed, as indicated by the key holes shown in Fig. 1. When the hinged support 12 is swun u wardl and maintained in raised position by the catch or latch 13, the said support 12 and the pad and pencil thereon are thrown out of projecting position, the pad and pencil being accommodated within and by the receptacle E.

Access to the cards or blanks 17 within the casing 16 may readily be obtained by releasing the members 19 and 20 from the latch 22 and swinging said members upwardly.

The entire device is compact in form and may be readily accommodated in a space proportionate to the elaboration of the device due to the use of a greater number of receptacles 13 than that shown in the drawing, and as determined by the size and shape of all the parts and members.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the particular construction and formation of parts shown and described, nor to the particular method of use and adaptation of the same set forth; but reserve the right to vary the same, in adapting the invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the terms of the following claims Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a main frame consisting of a rear upright member and two spaced forwardly projecting transverse members, a plurality of receptacles located between said transverse frame members, a hinged support connected with one of said transverse members and provided with message-recording means, and an indicating member mounted upon the other of said transverse members.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a main frame consisting of arear upright member and two spaced for wardly. projecting transverse members, a plurality of receptacles located between said transverse frame members, a hinged support connected with one of said transverse members and provided with messagerecording means, and an indicating member mounted upon the other of said transverse members; said indicating member comprising a casing containing a plurality of blanks adapted to receive written messages, and a hinged cover provided with a sight opening through which the foremost of said blanks may be inspected.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK STEVENSON. lVitnesses FRED A. MANsrmLn, MAUDE MILLIKEN. 

